Snarl Transformers Dinobots Set with Pop-Up Headquarters Transformers Age of Extinction Comic-Con Exclusive Gift Set Item No.: No. A7804 Manufacturer: Hasbro Includes: Bladed weapon, pop-out playset, 3 more Dinobots Action Feature: Transforms from Robot to Stegosaurus Retail: $159.99 Availability: July 2014 Other: Nifty, shiny.
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The green version wasn't yet out when Snarl hit SDCC's boxed set, so his inclusion is an admirable one. The "prepaint," as they're sometimes called, means you get the weird version, the redeco, before the regular one. Since he isn't actually in Age of Extinction this is sort of moot - he can be any color and be no less right or wrong - but here he's meant to vaguely resemble the 1985 Generation 1 Dinobot. He looks great in his own right.

The dinosaur mode looks a lot like his namesake - gold plates, (mostly) gold tail, red eyes, clear head, and red hips with splashes of grey mixed in for good measure. I particularly like the new head and how it departs from the original's clear plastic with a gold interior. This one is smokey clear plastic with red eyes and a silver mouth, articulated to move if you're so inclined. It looks mean, and has a lot of wonderful personality. Along with Strafe, this is one of the better beast heads in this line. The silver swoosh on the head gives the figure a sort of a late 1980s look, while the green version in the main line has a silver snout and doesn't seem to be of any specific school of design.

Transformation is easy, but I noticed what may be stress marks and chrome flaking pretty quickly - once I finish this review I do not believe I will ever transform it again out of fear of breaking it. The front half becomes the legs, lots of tabs and slots fit together nicely, and I bet the basic green version will make a better toy. This is shelf-candy.

The robot looks good, but plays rough. Like Grimlock and the others, the elbows are weird - it's not quite designed to be posed, the way each part moves leaves other elements looking strange. The curly-toed shoes are back, and there's a lot of gold and red on display here. The head is quite nice if a little freaky - you can make out teeth in his silver-painted face. The red eyes and silver cap on his head are a nice touch, but overall I think I prefer the dinosaur mode.

On eBay he sells alone for $50-$80, and I must admit I'm tempted to sell mine out of fear of his longevity. My Beast Machines Ultra Jetstorm has chrome cracking and I doubt this will fare better with the passage of time - as such I almost wish I could sell that heartbreak to another collector. I hate toys that remind me of my own mortality moments after purchase, so as a rule I'm not a big fan of clear things, white things, and chrome things - they don't age so good. Still, it's a gorgeous toy and if you can seize the day and appreciate it today, it's going to be great. I just bet the gold - which is silver, painted over with extra paint - will decay down the road. Let's all revisit this one around 2027. It's beautiful, but I don't think I can with a good conscience advise you to spend a lot of money for one. The same goes for the set as a whole - it's beautiful, but all very fragile as this kind of thing goes.

Sample courtesy Hasbro.

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